Valentine’s shoppers see red over rose prices

It’s said a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but Pattaya shoppers say cheaper roses on Valentine’s Day would smell best of all.

The Feb. 14 holiday may have been imported from the west, but Thai florists caught on quick to the annual price gouging on the flowers of love.

Ladda Singprom, owner of Home Flower in central Pattaya, said most of her roses are imported from China and Israel. Red roses are the most popular and normally are priced at 20-50 baht per rose. For Valentine’s Day that more than triples to 100-150 baht. Arrangements with just a single flower start at 250 baht.

Kan Janwichian sells pink and red roses at prices starting at 20-25 baht at her flower stand at the Chaimongkol Temple market in South Pattaya.

Despite the high price, Ladda claims she makes less on roses each year due to higher wholesale prices.

Kan Janwichian, who operates a flower stand at the Chaimongkol Temple market in South Pattaya, said she sells pink and red roses at prices starting at 20-25 baht. Her flowers come from the Pak Khlong Talad Market in Bangkok. Bouquets start at 500 baht.

Teddy Bears and stuff animals are another option for Valentine’s Day.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday February 14, 2014 (Vol. XXII No. 7).